ecobly blog

Just found this great used cardboard box company - UsedCardboardBoxes.com. They take great quality "cast aways" and turn them into valuable boxes. Getting ready to go back to college? They have a package for that. Moving your home or office? This is the greenest way to go! Check them out!

As the summer approaches, one of the biggest picnic days of the year is coming- the Fourth of July! Plan your party patriotically -- the best way to do that is to buy local, sustainably made products.

 As always - first check out Goodwill, Craig's list and consignment stores for gently used items. Reusing is the greenest! 

 For picnic supplies, look for reusable plates and cups that are made in the US and green -- one of the best suppliers is Preserve. I have been using the same 20 plates for about 5 years now! Some "green" products, particularly those made from bamboo, are made overseas and made from virgin materials. Support US companies and recycling!

CleanFlame credits ecobly membership for sales boost

 I sincerely thank Kory Hamman for his gracious words about ecobly and wish him and his company more flaming success!

"I would like to thank Ecobly for the wonderful service and promotional products that we have received. We placed the Ecobly logo on our product box and it has helped with our sales growth of 426% this last year. We have received many positive comments from our customers about Ecobly and the use of the logo on our box. Thank you Ecobly.

Sincerely,


Kory Hamman
CleanFlame, CEO"

I know, you don't know what to have for dinner tonight - but here I am to put a bug in your ear to think about your Mom. How nice to have some time to think about getting her something special, and not (just) pick up flowers that morning. Plus, if you order something online early, you can save on shipping!

 With that kind of time, you can do some "slow shopping."

Find a company in your town or state that makes the perfect little something for her. Visit their website -- or even the shop itself! Give her a gift with a tiny carbon footprint,  made locally, and filled with love.

"This is a revolution!"

 That's what I kept hearing from vendors at GreenFest yesterday -- an inspired group of creators who are figuring out how to make amazing products from our trash-stream. That's right -- some of the best green stuff goes beyond the curb and finds great raw materials in the trash bin.

 I really enjoyed speaking with these entrepreneurs. Instead of the gloom and doom economics I hear on the talking head news shows, these business people were brimming with excitement and optimism! Must be because studies show that despite the economic problems, green products are still going strong, and there is renewed interest in products Made Locally.

Ecobly welcomes another inventive member - CleanFlame, makers of the earth-friendly firelog. Want a cozy fire, inside or out? The CleanFlame logs are one great way to get all the warmth, without the pollution.

 CleanFlame logs are made from grocery boxes that are not recyclable because they are coated with wax. Born in Oroville, California,  the company collects grocery boxes from local retailers. According to its website:

More than 1.5 million new wax-coated boxes are produced each day in the U.S. for the purpose of shipping ice-packed produce to grocers and the food service industry. ...approximately 95% of the 660,000 tons produced each year were hauled to our overflowing landfills. Fortunately, two earth-friendly inventors recognized that high-quality food-grade wax-coated cardboard would make a HOT-BURNING SUPER-CLEAN fuel source! CleanFlame logs are truly earth-friendly products that save trees, landfills, and air quality. They do not contain diesel sludge wax (the common ingredient in most manufactured firelogs).  

I'm planning what to get my daughter for her upcoming birthday - she'll be three. While the greenest option would be, "Nothing," she has already proclaimed her desire for surprises. When asked, "When is your birthday?", she enthusiastically responded, "When I get my presents!"

 So, what's a green parent to do? For the lowest carbon footprint gifts, I perused ecobly for the greenest, non toxic gifts out there. It feels good to know that the gifts I give her are actually good for the planet, keeping materials out of our landfills, encouraging recycling programs, and investing in our local manufacturers.

 Here are a few ideas. This is just a glimpse at the variety of eco-friendly companies on ecobly.com. For more ideas, search the directory!

I come up with some "million dollar ideas"  (IMHO), especially when I see all the clever things ecobly companies do with recycled materials.

In this blog feature, I will list ideas for "ecobly products." If anyone wants to run with them - have at it!

 Today's  idea is Gore-tex diaper covers. Have I mentioned I have two green children? That means I've gone through a lot of cloth diapering and would love a really breathable, wateproof product. Gore-tex would be perfect. And I bet there are a lot of old coats, bags and remnant material out there just waiting for some crafty sewer to make something useful out of them!

It's Groundhog Day eve and spring is within our sights. But it is still very chilly in much of the country! Warm your house, head and hands with some eco-friendly, Made in the USA products. Find stuff made in your region to really lower your carbon footprint, while raising your temperature!

Find products to keep you cozy, from head to toe!

* TerraCycle firelogs and firestarters (NJ)

Here's a clever ecobly-like idea: use long-haired cat fur to make yarn. The Huffington Post has a story about Danielle German who knits handbags from cat hair: check out the story here.

 Ecobly features yarn from alpaca, sheep and rabbits (that's angora!) Why not cats? Some folks are "creeped" out, but is sounds sane to me. It's just another creative way to use the resources at our fingertips.

 I say, keep those ideas rolling!